Download Idaho`s Overhead Line Safety Act

Idaho’s
Overhead Line
Safety Act
Facts You Need
To Know... When
Working Near
Overhead Power
Lines
Working Together
As soon as you inform your local utility of your intended work activity,
you’re taking the first step to ensure your safety and the safety of your
crew. When and where necessary, the following can then occur:
1) Coordination of work schedules;
To protect individuals working
near overhead power lines
from accidental contact, the
Idaho Legislature passed into
law in 1992 the Overhead Line
Safety Act, or the “10-foot rule,”
meaning 10 feet of clearance
must be maintained.
The State of Oregon has similar
legislation and Occupational and
Safety Health Administration
(OSHA) laws include bare lowvoltage lines as well.
The law says that no work
activities can take place near
high-voltage, overhead power
lines until:
1) you notify the utility
operating the line near your
worksite, and
2) you and the utility complete
mutually satisfactory safety
precautions for the work.
2) Identification of temporary mechanical barriers to prevent contact
with the lines;
3) Temporary de-energizing and grounding of the lines;
4) Temporary raising or moving of lines.
Failure to Comply
Any party working within prescribed distances of an overhead
line without notifying the electric utility and establishing required
safety precautions, will be held directly responsible for all financial
consequences of an electrical accident.
Failure to comply with this rule can carry a penalty of up to $500 for
each offense in addition to the cost of injuries and repairs.
For your reference, the text of the law is printed in full on the back of
this sheet.
Contact Your Utility Immediately
If you or your contractor are going to be working near overhead lines,
immediately contact the local electric utility nearest your intended
job site. If you don’t know who operates the power lines in question,
any utility will be able to help. Make your work activities as safe as
possible by meeting all requirements of this law.
Please contact Idaho Power at 1-800-488-6150 for help in taking
appropriate steps to ensure the safety of you and your workers.
P.O. Box 70 (83707)
1221 W. Idaho St.
Boise, ID 83702
The Idaho Overhead Line Safety Act Of 1992
55-2401. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Authorized person” means
(a) An employee of a public utility, or a contractor or subcontractor or
employee of a contractor or subcontractor of a public utility, which
produces, transmits or delivers electricity, while the employee is
working within the scope of his employment with or for the public
utility;
(b) An employee of a public utility which provides and whose
work relates to communication services or an employee of a
state, county or municipal agency which has authorized circuit
construction on or near the poles or structures of a public
utility, while the employee is working within the scope of his
employment;
(c) An employee of an industrial plant whose work relates to the
electrical system of the industrial plant, while the employee is
working within the scope of his employment;
(d) An employee of a cable television or communication services
company or an employee of a contractor of a cable television or
communication services company, if specifically authorized by
the owner of the poles to make cable television or communication
services attachments, while the employee is working within the
scope of his employment; or
(e) An employee or agent of a state, county or municipal agency which
has or whose work relates to overhead electrical lines or circuit
construction or conductors on poles or structures of any type,
while the employee is working within the scope of his employment.
(2) “Contractor” means any person, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint
venture, corporation, or other business entity doing business in the
state of Idaho which contracts, subcontracts or otherwise agrees or
undertakes to perform any function or activity upon any land, building,
highway, waterway or other premises.
(3) “High voltage” means voltage in excess of six hundred (600) volts
measured between conductors or between a conductor and the
ground.
(4) “Overhead line” means all electrical conductors installed above ground.
(5) “Person” means any individual or business entity of any kind.
(6) “Public utility” means any publicly, cooperatively or privately owned
utility which owns or operates a high voltage overhead line.
55-2402. Activity Near Overhead Line — Safety Restrictions
Unless danger against contact with high voltage overhead lines has been
effectively guarded against as provided in section 55-2403, Idaho Code, a
contractor, individually or through an agent or employee or as an agent or
employee, shall not:
(1) Perform or require any other person to perform any function or activity
upon any land, building, highway, waterway or other premises if at
any time during the performance of such function or activity it is
possible that the contractor or the person or any part of any tool or
material used by the contractor or the person could move or be placed
or brought closer to any high voltage overhead line than the following
clearances:
(a) For lines nominally rated at fifty (50) kilovolts or less, ten (10) feet
of clearance;
(b) For lines nominally rated at over fifty (50) kilovolts, ten (10) feet
plus four-tenths (.4) of an inch for each kilovolt over fifty (50)
kilovolts.
(2) Operate any mechanical or hoisting equipment or any load of such
equipment, any part of which is capable of vertical, lateral or swinging
motion closer to any high voltage overhead lines than the clearances
specified in subsections (1)(a) and (b) of this section.
55-2403. Activity In Close Proximity To Lines — Clearance
Arrangements With Public Utility — Payment
(1) If any contractor desires to temporarily carry on any function, activity,
work or operation in closer proximity to any high voltage overhead
line than permitted in this chapter, or in such proximity that the
function, activity, work or operation could possibly come within closer
proximity than permitted in this chapter, the contractor responsible for
performing the work shall promptly notify the public utility owning or
operating the high voltage overhead line in writing. The contractor may
perform the work only after making mutually agreeable arrangements
with the public utility owning or operating the line, including
coordination of work and construction schedules. Arrangements may
include placement of temporary mechanical barriers to separate and
prevent contact between material, equipment or persons and the high
voltage overhead lines, temporary deenergization and grounding, or
temporary relocation or raising of the high voltage overhead lines. A
written agreement identifying the arrangements and the payment to
be made therefore, if any, as provided in subsection (2) of this section
shall be executed by the parties.
(2) The public utility may, in conformance with its then current practice,
require the contractor responsible for performing the work in the
vicinity of the high voltage overhead lines to pay any actual expenses of
the public utility in providing arrangements for work in close proximity
to the overhead lines. The public utility is not required to provide the
arrangements for work in close proximity to the overhead lines until a
written agreement for payment has been made. The public utility may
require payment in advance. Any surplus amounts paid to the utility
shall be refunded.
(3) The public utility shall make arrangements to accommodate activity
in proximity to overhead lines in accordance with the agreement
of the parties. Where a date certain for completion of the clearance
arrangements is not otherwise specified in the agreement, the
arrangements must be completed within a reasonable time with
consideration to all existing circumstances. However, any delay in
completing the arrangement shall not excuse nor authorize the person,
contractor or subcontractor to undertake to perform work in closer
proximity to high voltage overhead lines than is provided herein, until
such time as the arrangements have been completed.
(4) The public utility may deny any request for clearances which in the
judgment of the utility may jeopardize the performance, integrity,
reliability or stability of the utility’s electrical system or any electrical
system with which it is interconnected.
55-2404. Violations
(1) Any contractor or agent thereof violating the provisions of this chapter
shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars
($500) to be imposed by the court in favor of the state and deposited in
the state general account.
(2) If a violation of the provisions of this chapter results in physical or
electrical contact with any high voltage overhead line, the contractor
committing the violation shall be liable to the public utility owning or
operating the high voltage overhead line for all damages to the facilities
and all costs and expenses, including damages to third persons,
incurred by the public utility as a result of the contact.
(3) County prosecuting attorneys and the attorney general are authorized
to prosecute violations of the provisions of this chapter.
55-2405. Exemptions
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
(1) Construction, reconstruction, operation or maintenance by an
authorized person of overhead electrical or communication circuits or
conductors and their supporting structures, or to electrical generating,
transmission or distribution systems, or to communication systems;
(2) Agreements between public agencies to perform any work or
undertaking which each public agency entering into the agreement is
authorized by law to perform, provided that any such agreement shall
be authorized by the governing body of each party to the agreement; or
(3) Fire, police or other emergency service workers while engaged in
emergency operations, or highway districts or other governmental
entities performing routine or emergency maintenance in their rights
of way.
CID# 46809
© 2009 Idaho Power